Isaiah 26 13

Isaiah 26:13 kjv

O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

Isaiah 26:13 nkjv

O LORD our God, masters besides You Have had dominion over us; But by You only we make mention of Your name.

Isaiah 26:13 niv

LORD our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone do we honor.

Isaiah 26:13 esv

O LORD our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone we bring to remembrance.

Isaiah 26:13 nlt

O LORD our God, others have ruled us,
but you alone are the one we worship.

Isaiah 26 verses

Isaiah 26 13 meaning

Isaiah 26:13 is a confession of the people of God, acknowledging a past marked by disloyalty and subjection to powers other than their true God. It recognizes a history where they were ruled or influenced by "other lords" – referring to foreign oppressors, false deities, or both – that held sway over them, diminishing their exclusive devotion to Yahweh. The verse then declares a profound turning point: a resolute commitment to now solely acknowledge and worship Yahweh, their God, expressing renewed allegiance and a rejection of all past claimants to their worship or sovereignty. It embodies a spirit of repentance and a declaration of monotheistic fidelity.

Isaiah 26 13 Context

Isaiah 26 is part of a larger section (chapters 24-27) sometimes called "Isaiah's Apocalypse" due to its eschatological themes of judgment and salvation. Chapter 26 is a "song of salvation" or a hymn of praise and trust in God, sung by God's redeemed people in the aftermath of His judgments upon the wicked and His establishment of peace for the righteous. It contrasts the fate of the righteous (who dwell in secure trust with God) with that of the wicked (who are judged).

Verse 13 occurs within a section where God's people reflect on their past. They recall a period of historical unfaithfulness or foreign subjugation ("other lords have had dominion over us"), likely referencing periods of idolatry (worshiping Baal or other pagan gods) or political subservience to oppressive empires like Assyria or Babylon, which God had permitted as a consequence of their sin. This acknowledgment is critical to understanding their present and future posture of exclusive reliance on Yahweh. The "song" reflects a repentant people, ready to commit wholeheartedly to God alone, looking forward to the Lord's complete triumph and the restoration of His people, where He is unequivocally their sole master and sovereign. This declaration is a polemic against the worldview that afforded ultimate power or spiritual allegiance to any entity other than the One True God.

Isaiah 26 13 Word analysis

• O LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The unpronounceable, covenant name of God. It signifies His personal, relational, and self-existent nature. This specific name sets Him apart from all other deities or rulers and emphasizes His unique covenant relationship with Israel, which makes their past disloyalty particularly poignant.
• our God (אֱלֹהֵינוּ - Eloheinu): A possessive form of Elohim, meaning "God" or "gods." Used here, it reaffirms the unique, covenantal bond and claim God has over Israel, even despite their historical failures. It stresses their ownership of God as their God.
• other lords (בְּעָלִים זוּלָתֶךָ - bā'ălîm zûlāthekkā):
  • בְּעָלִים (bā'ălîm): Plural of ba'al, which primarily means "master," "owner," or "husband." It was also the name of the prominent Canaanite storm god. Its dual meaning powerfully conveys that Israel served not just foreign rulers (masters/owners) but also foreign gods (Baals), violating both political and spiritual loyalties to YHWH.
  • זוּלָתֶךָ (zûlāthekkā): Means "besides You" or "apart from You." This highlights the exclusivity of YHWH's claim to dominion and the illegitimate nature of these "other lords" in God's sight.
• besides You: Emphasizes the unlawful competition against YHWH's sovereignty.
• have had dominion over us (לְבָעָלֻנוּ - leba'ălūnu): From the verb form of ba'al. It signifies the reality of being mastered, ruled, or possessed by these "other lords." This reflects the historical judgment where God allowed foreign powers to subjugate Israel due to their idolatry and unfaithfulness.
• but by You only (בְּךָ לְבַדְּךָ - bēkhā levaddēkhā): This phrase marks a sharp and decisive pivot.
  • בְּךָ (bēkhā): "By You" or "through You." Signifies God as the agent or ultimate authority behind their actions and commitment.
  • לְבַדְּךָ (levaddēkhā): "Only You," or "You alone." An emphatic statement of exclusive loyalty, asserting absolute monotheism and complete rejection of the "other lords."
• we make mention of Your name (נַזְכִּיר שִׁמְךָ - nazkîr shimkhā):
  • נַזְכִּיר (nazkîr): Hiphil (causative) form of zakhar, "to remember," "to recall," "to mention." In the Hiphil, it means "to cause to remember," "to declare," "to invoke," "to make known." It's an active, public declaration and commitment. Not just passively remembering but actively calling upon and testifying to God's identity and power.
  • שִׁמְךָ (shimkhā): "Your name." The "name" in Hebrew thought represents the essence, character, authority, and presence of the person. To mention or invoke God's name is to acknowledge, worship, trust, and obey Him alone.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "O LORD our God, other lords besides You have had dominion over us": This first part is a powerful confession. It contrasts YHWH, their God, with the illicit, external "masters" or "gods" they previously allowed to govern their lives and nation. It’s a somber reflection on Israel's past failures and the consequences of breaking their covenant.
• "but by You only we make mention of Your name": This second part declares a profound reversal and renewal of vows. The "but by You only" asserts exclusive devotion, and "we make mention of Your name" is the tangible, active expression of that commitment – implying worship, allegiance, prayer, and testimony, all directed solely to YHWH. This marks a new era of unadulterated faithfulness.

Isaiah 26 13 Bonus section

• This verse encapsulates a core theological theme of the Old Testament: the recurring cycle of Israel's unfaithfulness, God's judgment, and His ultimate redemptive restoration upon their repentance and return. It offers a snapshot of that return.
• The progression from "other lords" to "by You only" is a journey from syncretism (or even polytheism/political compromise) to radical monotheism, aligning perfectly with the overarching message of Isaiah that Yahweh is the exclusive sovereign and Savior.
• The "name" of God (Shem) is a critical concept here. To "make mention of Your name" is not a superficial act; it is to engage with and commit to the totality of who God is – His character, power, and covenant. This concept is fundamental to true worship and knowing God.

Isaiah 26 13 Commentary

Isaiah 26:13 articulates a pivotal moment in the spiritual journey of God's people: a contrite acknowledgment of past failures followed by a resolute declaration of renewed fidelity. The "other lords" symbolize a double-edged sword: foreign kings and empires that had oppressed Israel, representing political subjugation, and the pagan deities associated with those cultures, symbolizing spiritual idolatry. Israel’s subjection to these powers was often a direct consequence or divine judgment for their own unfaithfulness to Yahweh, their covenant God.

The phrase "have had dominion over us" admits to a history where they yielded their sovereignty, either by choice (through idolatry) or by divine decree (through permitted oppression). However, the verse's power lies in its sharp turning point: "but by You only we make mention of Your name." This signifies a radical reorientation of allegiance. It's not just a passive recognition, but an active, public commitment to Yahweh. "Making mention of Your name" encompasses invoking God in prayer, proclaiming His character, swearing by His name, worshipping Him, and living in obedience to Him – essentially, affirming Him as the only legitimate Master and God. This declaration is born from experience, realizing the emptiness and futility of any other "lord." It anticipates a future where the lessons of suffering have led to exclusive, unshakeable trust in the One True God, ensuring His name is glorified by His redeemed people.